The Fame Game with Heidi & Spencer
Episode: A City Rebuilt: Spencer’s Vision for Change & Fire Survivors Speak Out One Year Later
Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag
Featured Guests: Nicole Diaco Burgess, Eric Soderbergh, Brandon from Georgia
Episode Overview
This deeply personal and emotional episode marks the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire that destroyed Spencer and Heidi’s home along with many others in their beloved community. Recorded on the very lot where their house once stood, the episode gathers fire survivors, close friends, and familiar voices from the Palisades to reflect on the challenges, grief, unity, and hopeful determination to rebuild not just their homes—but their entire community.
Heidi and Spencer also discuss Spencer’s campaign for LA mayor, aiming to enact real change for fire victims and the city at large. The tone oscillates between raw vulnerability, fiery activism, and light-hearted banter, but the heart of the episode is resilience through shared struggle.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Experiencing Community After Trauma
[02:22-04:49]
- Emotional Reconnection: Spencer shares the difficulty of the day, nearly breaking down at the community gathering, feeling “connected to so many people” for the first time since the fire.
- Quote (Spencer, 02:38): “The hardest I almost cried was in the car driving to our rally... it was the first time in a year that I actually felt connected to so many people.”
- Sense of Belonging: Heidi talks about the motivating feeling of returning to their “village,” emphasizing a fierce determination to rebuild.
- Quote (Heidi, 03:53): “We love our friends and we love our community. This is where we’re meant to be. This is where you grew up. This is where our kids want to be.”
2. Rebuilding, Bureaucracy & Spencer’s Mayoral Run
[04:49-06:38]
- Spencer’s Announcement: He’s running for LA mayor, motivated by frustration over post-fire bureaucracy and a lack of political accountability, especially towards how fire victims have been let down.
- Quote (Spencer, 05:26): “My heart and they know this is the last thing I want to be doing... but I don’t want more people’s houses to burn down... And that’s why I’m running for mayor.”
- Rallying Support: The previous week’s event drew an outpouring of genuine support for Spencer from the community.
3. Fire Survivor Stories: Nicole Diaco Burgess
[06:38-20:13]
- Nicole’s Testimony: Nicole reflects on the chaos of evacuation, her mindset in the aftermath, and the emotional toll of a slow, bureaucratic recovery:
- On Survival Mode:
- Quote (Nicole, 09:06): “I feel like I’ve been in fight or flight for 12 months... I didn’t shed a tear the first two weeks... I was like, you are not going to break down until you absolutely can.”
- Dealing with Bureaucracy: Endless red tape has delayed rebuilding, with disputes even over minimal home design changes for safety.
- The Irreplaceable Community:
- Quote (Nicole, 12:44): “Regardless of what infrastructure is left here or not, the community’s always going to be the same.”
- Quote (Nicole, 14:56): “I never woke up and was like, oh, it’s just another day in the Palisades. I woke up every day, like, pinching myself, like, how lucky am I that I might get to give my kids this same experience?”
- Shared Loss, Shared Fight: Seven homes lost in her extended family—yet everyone is returning and fighting to reclaim their sense of place.
- On Survival Mode:
4. The Exhaustion and Importance of Fighting
[18:27-19:42]
- Quote (Heidi, 18:27): “Fighting is exhausting. And it’s not the easy way. It’s actually the hardest route, and it’s the most important one.”
- Nicole emphasizes needing “forward motion” and being driven by hope despite trauma and daunting obstacles in recovery.
5. Local Voices: Eric Soderbergh’s On-the-Ground Perspective
[21:45-31:59]
- First Responder Effort: Eric recounts helping Spencer and others evacuate and trying—at times in vain due to lack of water—to save homes during the fire.
- Quote (Eric, 24:17): “That house could have 100% been saved... there was a tiny fire on the front porch but no water.”
- Failure of Local Systems: Both Eric and Spencer criticize city officials for failing to ensure critical infrastructure like water, and for deflecting blame post-disaster.
- Quote (Eric, 25:05): “It is so—it’s mind boggling insane. They’re just trying to cover their asses, you know.”
- Longstanding Community Work: Eric’s activism pre-dates the fire, highlighting drug abuse and neglected encampments in LA, and his ongoing efforts despite resistance.
- Quote (Eric, 26:52): “It’s just so twisted, dude. Everything around here is so twisted. Like you said, if you try to do normal business in LA it’s a death sentence.”
- Impact on Kids: Eric’s martial arts academy for kids burned down; he observes the displacement and trauma it’s caused for young families:
- Quote (Eric, 29:10): “I probably have 12 families whose houses burned down... these are kids... now in Santa Monica... It really messes them up, to be honest.”
6. What Makes the Palisades Unique (and Worth Fighting For)
[30:03-31:16]
- The Palisades is remembered as a safe, vibrant, tight-knit community where “everybody works out for each other,” and children enjoy unmatched freedom—a sense of security now lost but not forgotten.
- Quote (Eric, 30:03): “It’s always been such a beautiful place... a very tight knit community. And now it’s kind of gone. I hope we get it back.”
7. National Support & Gratitude: Brandon from Georgia
[33:13-39:12]
- Long-Distance Support: Brandon and his wife provided crucial material and emotional support after the fire, reaffirming the importance of friendship and kindness.
- Quote (Brandon, 35:49): “You have brought so much attention to this entire thing... You’ve really built a family everywhere, not just in the Palisades.”
- Community Resonates Nationally: Even in Georgia, people have recognized and connected with the Palisades’ struggle.
- Quote (Spencer, 36:30): “No, this is America. This is—we’re all Americans. So thank you for being an American that pumps me up all the time, stays so positive.”
- Closing on Hope and Resilience: The episode ends with thanks to all supporters, an affirmation of continued fighting spirit, and a jab at political leadership for perceived profiteering and inaction.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Spencer’s raw emotion on restoration:
- “This is the last thing I want to be doing... but I don’t want more people’s houses to burn down.” (05:26)
- Nicole’s reflection on community:
- “Every day, six feet above ground is a win. It sounds really dark, but it truly is like, every day’s a miracle in some sense of the word.” (18:37)
- Eric’s firsthand account of loss:
- “That house could have 100% been saved... there was no water.” (24:17)
- Heidi on the fight ahead:
- “Fighting is exhausting. And it’s not the easy way. It’s actually the hardest route, and it’s the most important one.” (18:27)
- Brandon on national community:
- “You’ve really built a family everywhere, not just in the Palisades.” (35:49)
- Spencer’s challenge to political critics:
- “Let’s be clear, Mayor Karen Bass... I could sell 3 million books and I don’t get my house you let burn down.” (37:50)
Key Timestamps
- 02:22 – Returning to the community one year later; emotional reflections (Spencer & Heidi)
- 04:49 – Spencer announces mayoral campaign and calls out city leadership
- 06:38 – Nicole Diaco Burgess shares her fire survival story and bureaucratic experience
- 21:45 – Eric Soderbergh recounts his actions during the fire and community activism
- 29:10 – The fire’s disruptive impact on families and children (Eric)
- 33:13 – Brandon from Georgia joins to highlight national support and enduring friendship
- 37:50 – Spencer’s direct response to city officials about profiting and responsibility
Conclusion: The Episode’s Heart
At its core, this episode is about more than recovery—it’s a love letter to the Pacific Palisades, an indictment of bureaucratic failure, and a rallying cry for hope, rootedness, and unwavering community. With voices of loss and resilience, Spencer, Heidi, and their guests demonstrate the irreplaceable power of belonging—and their determination to reclaim what was lost, together.
For more:
- Mayor campaign updates: mayorpratt.com
- Heidi’s music & Spencer’s book
- Follow the journey on future episodes of The Fame Game